Fatimah poses for a group photo with the attendees at the Para Sukma Carnival. — Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (Sept 22): Small, young enterprises can harness the 21st Para Malaysia Games (Sukma) Carnival for business opportunities, says Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister of Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development, when met at the carnival’s launch at Dataran Perayaan in Petra Jaya here today, said she was pleased to see young entrepreneurs’ involvement at the event.
“Most of the entrepreneurs here are young, and some even started trading a day before the carnival’s launch. When I asked about their earnings, they said ‘alhamdulillah’,” she told the reporters.
“That is why people appreciate it when the government organises various festivals and activities, as these offer them the opportunities to do business and generate income, thus improve their livelihoods.”
In this regard, she commended the Ministry of International Trade and Investment (Mintred) for organising the carnival which had not only offered business opportunities but also served as a platform for ministries and agencies to showcase their roles and responsibilities.
“For our ministry, for instance, the public can apply for services such as the Endowment Fund, Maternity Assistance, Kenyalang Gold Card, and Senior Citizen Health Benefits,” she said.
Fatimah also expressed her appreciation to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development for giving the opportunity to the special needs students from the Integrated Special Education Programme in SMK Kota Samarahan, SMK Muara Tuang, and SMK Demak Baru to participate in the event.
These students, she said, had contributed their parts in the launching of the event through their dance performance, poetry recital, ‘sape’ performance, and rendition of songs.
“This is a good way to empower our special needs students,” she said.